As Situation in Syria Worsens, U.S. Embassy in Damascus Closes

by Andrea Gittleman, JD on February 7, 2012

In a shocking display of support for President Assad’s use
of violence against civilians, Russia and China vetoed a Security Council
resolution designed to end the atrocities in Syria. Russia and China were the
only Security Council members who did not vote for the resolution, which had support
from a variety of countries including India, Morocco, Pakistan, and South
Africa. The defeat of the resolution against Syria is a dark moment for the
people of Syria, as the vetoes from Russia and China may embolden the Syrian
government to continue its ongoing attacks on civilians. PHR has documented violations of medical neutrality [pdf] in Syria –
attacks which represent a sliver of Assad’s assault on Syria’s civilian
population.

The veto does not preclude the Security Council from passing
a new resolution against Syria in the future, which must include not only support
for the Arab League’s plan to end the violence but also a referral of the
situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The report of the
Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, a Commission set up
by the Human Rights Council, indicated that human rights violations including
torture, killings, sexual violence, and unlawful detention were widespread and
systematic. The results of this investigation, coupled with reports from myriad
human rights organizations, indicate that the Syrian government is committing
crimes against humanity – offenses that fall under the mandate of the ICC. Since
the Commission’s report was released in November, there has been no effort on
the part of the Syrian government to cooperate with Arab League observers to
end the violence nor to abide by its international legal obligations to end
human rights violations, punish perpetrators, and provide reparation to
victims. Instead, the Assad regime has chosen to continue its campaign of
killings, torture, detention, and other acts of violence geared toward
political opposition and other civilians.

The worsening situation in Syria is reflected in today’s
decision by the U.S. government to close its Embassy in Damascus. Although this
move does not signal the severing of relations between the U.S. and Syria, such
a decision reflects the gravity of the ongoing situation.

As the situation in Syria devolves, Russia and China should
see that they have chosen the wrong side of history. When the Security Council
attempts to pass another resolution on Syria, Russia and China will have
another chance to get it right. They can recover some of their own legitimacy
by taking a stand against Assad’s criminality and joining others in the pursuit
of peace and accountability.